April10 Ver1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE ESSEX BEEKEEPER Signs of Spring, photo taken by Deryck Johnson. Monthly Magazine of the E.B.K.A April No. 544 www.essexbeekeepers.com 2010 Registered Charity number 1031419 Printed by Streamset, 12 Rose Way, Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, Essex SS4 1LY. 1 Essex Beekeeper’s Association The Essex Beekeepers’ Association is a registered charity whose object is to further the craft of beekeeping in Essex. President Derek Webber Trustees Chairman: Ms Pat Allen, 8 Frank’s Cottages, St Mary’s Lane Upminster, Essex RM14 3NU Email [email protected] tel. 01708 220897 Secretary: Position vacant Treasurer: Tony Edwards, 52 Orchard Piece, Blackmore, Essex CM4 0RZ email [email protected] tel. 01277 821588 Divisional Trustees Roy Carter, Blue Cedar, Fambridge Road, North Fambridge, Essex CM3 6NB Colchester Div: Vacant Jean Smye, 8 Gate Street Mews, Maldon CM9 7EF Epping Forest Div: Vacant E Fenner, 36 Chequers Rd, Writtle CM1 3NQ William Stephens, 87 Newark Knok, Winsor Park Estate, Beckton E6 6WL Craig Hirons, Bury Cottage, Middle Street, Clavering CB11 4QL Jeremy Huband, 28 Hamboro Gardens, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 2NR Mrs Pat Rowland, 29 Mill Lane, Cressing, Braintree, Essex CM77 8HP Divisional Contacts To contact a regional division: Braintree: Colleen Chamberlain, 01279 876333 Chelmsford: Jean Smye, 07731 856361 Colchester: Lydia Geddes, 01206 392226 DH & Maldon: Jean Smye, 07731 856361 Southend: Ann Cushion, 07909-965117 Harlow: Eric Fenner, 01245 420622 Romford: Pat Allen, 01708 220897 Saffron Walden: Jane Ridler, 01279 718111 Epping Forest: Jenny Johns 0208 5292844 Essex Beekeeper’s Magazine Editor: Howard Gilbert, address: Glencairn, Eastside, Boxted, Colchester CO4 5QS email [email protected] Advertising: Dee Inkersole, email [email protected] tel. 01245 422627 Web site: Stuart Youngs email [email protected] Distribution and Mailing Secretary: Mary Heyes tel. 01702 588009 Regional Bee Inspector for EBKA Epping Forest and Romford Divisions (excluding Brentwood): Alan Byham [email protected] tel. 01306 611016 or 07775 119447 All other Divisions: Keith Morgan [email protected] tel. 01485 520838 or 07919 004215 Please ensure that all material for publication is received by the Editor before the 10th of the preceding month to publication. 2 April 2010 1 April Thursday 7.30pm Harlow at Kings Church Red Willow. A talk by Danny Nichol on ‘Swarm Control’. 9 April Friday 8.00pm Romford Chadwick Hall, Main Road, Gidea Park. A talk Jim McNeill and John O’Connell on ‘Marketing your Honey’. 13 April Tuesday 7.45pm Saffron Walden Dunmow Day Centre, Gt. Dunmow CM6 1AE. A ‘Mead Masterclass by Richard Alabone. 15 Apr Thursday 7.30pm Epping Forest at The Chingford Horticultural Society Hall, Larkshall Road, Chingford, E4 6NH. Roy Cropley is going to give us a talk on Beeswax. 21 April Wednesday 7.30pm Chelmsford Link Hall Rainsford Rd. CM1 2XB Mead Making: if you have ever thought of making mead but never got around to it, this is a meeting for you. Richard Alabone will be talking about the his- torical background to making mead and Eric Fenner will describe what equipment is needed and how to produce your first bottle of mead. 22 April Thursday 7.30pm Colchester Langham Community Centre. A talk by Barry Kaufmann-Wright on the ‘Role of a Police Wildlife Crime Officer. The talk covers Barry's period with Essex Police in this role. The slides illustrate numerous cases and problems regularly encountered and in- cludes current legislation and its associated issues. 24 April Saturday 2.00pm Maldon and DH at Blue Boar Hotel, Silver Street, Maldon. Dealing with swarms: the signs and prevention. 25 April Sunday 10.30am to 4.00pm Braintree Matt Wallis at Wood Farm, More- ton Road, Moreton. Phone 01277 890007 for further details. 28 April Wednesday 7.30pm Southend A talk by Terry Clare on how to organise a breeding programme for the average beekeeper. A comment from Deryck Johnson regarding the photo on the front cover: Just in case members have been reading the Module 2 syllabus too closely which list crocus as purely pollen bearing, F.N. Howes, in 'Plants and Beekeeping' says........... Nectar may also be obtained by the honeybee in some instances, but as a rule the flowers are worked only for pollen. It has been stated that some of the yellow flowered varieties are best for nectar, but this requires confirmation. The nectar is secreted at the base of the flower and as the long narrow flower-tube is alsmost completely filled by the style and hairs it re- quires a proboscis of fair length, longer than that of the honeybee, to reach it. However, if nectar accumulates and rises sufficiently in the tube the honeybee may be able to reach it by making great efforts. These two bees were almost standing on their heads trying to burrow through to the corm so great were their efforts. 3 May 2010 6 May Thursday 7.30pm Harlow at Kings Church Red Willow. A talk by Roy Cropley on ‘Honey and Pollen in the Hive’. 7 May Friday 8.00pm Romford Chadwick Hall, Main Road, Gidea Park. A talk on Integrated Pest Management. 8 May Saturday Epping Forest An Apiary Meeting is planned. Apiary Hygiene will be the focus of the meeting. Venue and time will be confirmed. 15 May Saturday 2.30pm Colchester. Apiary meeting to be held at the Apiary of Peter Inson. Telephone 01206 382010 for more details. 16 May Sunday All Day Braintree Young Farmers Show at Boyton Hall, Roxwell, Celmsford CM1 4LN. 17 May Monday 6.30pm Chelmsford Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8AT. ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’ We are very pleased to invite you to a private tour lead by Ian Le Gros, the Curator of the beautiful RHS gardens at Hyde Hall. In the event of inclement weather we will be given a presentation in the Events Barn. Numbers are strictly limited so please contact Jean (07731 856 361) by 10th May to confirm your place. 20 May Thursday Romford A Disease Inspection Tour led by South East RBI Alan Byham. Further details to follow. 22 May Saturday 2.00pm Maldon and DH at venue to be announced: Recognis- ing diseases with the Regional Bee Inspector. 22 May Saturday 2.30pm Saffron Walden Apiary Meeting on the subject of ‘Building Nuclei’ with Robert Pickford at Les Ridgewell’s Apiary, Gt Bard- field. 26 May Wednesday 7.30pm Southend A talk by Pam Hunter, ‘Is Nature always Nice?’ 4 Behind the Veil with Roger Barker (Colchester Division) How was your interest in beekeeping kindled? I’m sure we all have images in our minds, going back to our wonderful childhood. One of mine is being detailed to collect all the moorhens eggs from the vicarage garden, because the adult birds attacked the vicar’s vegetables. One benefit of having access to this gar- den was exploration. It was a haven for all kinds of life, one of the strangest was the bee colonies living in woven domed containers. On one occasion I was in the garden and an old man in strange clothing was opening up the ‘Skeps’ , removing the honey comb and then burning them. Horrified at the death of so many bees, my interest in beekeeping was not off to a good start. Later, on a visit to a farm, I came across what I now know to be a WBC hive. Wanting to know how it worked and there being no one to ask, I looked inside. Twenty years it took to get over that experience, so, when Penny came home and said that she had learned that eating local honey was good for overcoming hay fever, I was quite receptive to the idea of keeping bees. Both Penny and I had been introduced to George Edwards, a local beekeeper, tall, quiet and a very pleasant gentleman. First, he loaned us a beehive which we had in our garden for a couple of months. Our neighbour said he was allergic to bees and on several occasions when he complained about 'the bees', we were able to show an empty hive. He never knew that eventually we put bees in there. George did a good job teaching me about bees, but perhaps I was not as good at learning. I remember some of his comments and generally they are good to follow:- Bees know best. The only thing you can be certain of is that they are going to be unpredictable. People bang, thump and do things quickly but it is not my way. Unfortunately he is no longer with us and I do miss him. What were the formative influences on your beekeeping? My beekeeping is a hobby, I used to get enough honey to keep family and friends supplied, but over the last three years it has been difficult to keep the bees alive through the year. This year all four of my colonies have made it through the winter! But what of my formative influences. Apart from my mentor, there are two people who influence my beekeeping, both are what I shall describe as bee farmers. They can produce much more honey and wax than I can, and as a consequence, Penny and another local farmer buy honey and wax from them, and turn them into prod- ucts for sale at farmers markets. As I keep my bees close to Ian’s, he likes me to 5 keep to the same pest control regimes as himself. Percy has taught me a lot about managing bees and the tricks you can do to persuade them to do what you want. Anyway, they are friends who will help if you need it and I think that generally sums up the beekeepers associations.